Supreme Court Questions Government on Housing for Pakistani Hindu Refugees, Stays Eviction at Majnu Ka Tila

The Supreme Court on Monday strongly questioned the Central Government over its failure to provide housing to Hindu refugees who migrated from Pakistan and were subsequently granted Indian citizenship.

The apex court asked why, despite being legally recognized as citizens of India, these families are still being forced to live in refugee-like conditions without permanent shelter.

The bench comprising Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh directed the Union Government to examine the matter at the highest level and explore a humane and practical solution to provide proper housing to these displaced families currently residing at Majnu Ka Tila in Delhi.

The court also stayed the eviction notices issued by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), which had ordered around 250 Hindu refugee families from Pakistan to vacate the land where they have been living for years.

A Long History of Displacement and Struggle

For decades, Hindu minorities in Pakistan have faced religious persecution, social discrimination, and insecurity, prompting many families to flee across the border into India in search of safety and dignity.

Over the years, thousands of such refugees settled in various parts of India, including Delhi’s Majnu Ka Tila area, where temporary camps gradually turned into permanent settlements due to the absence of rehabilitation policies.

Many of these families lived in makeshift homes without basic amenities, hoping that one day the Indian government would formally rehabilitate them.

With the introduction of citizenship provisions in recent years, several Pakistani Hindu refugees were granted Indian nationality, raising expectations that their long wait for stable housing and integration into society would finally end.

However, despite receiving citizenship, these families continued to live in uncertain conditions. The recent eviction notices by the DDA threatened to uproot them once again, sparking legal action.

Court Steps In

The Supreme Court was hearing a petition challenging the DDA’s eviction orders. The petitioners sought protection from being forcibly removed and requested rehabilitation and housing support.

Taking serious note of the issue, the bench questioned the logic of granting citizenship without ensuring basic human needs such as shelter.

The court observed that once the government has accepted these refugees as Indian citizens, it has a moral and constitutional responsibility to ensure they are not left homeless.

Accordingly, the court:

• Stayed the eviction of the 250 Hindu refugee families at Majnu Ka Tila
• Directed the Central Government to consider their rehabilitation at the highest administrative level
• Asked authorities to find a long-term housing solution

The matter remains under consideration as the court continues to monitor the government’s response.

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